Combined clip and pin chain link for fabric stretching machines



July 27, 1948.

P. DECK 2,446,131 COMBINED CLIP AND PIN CHAIN LINK FOR FABRIC STRETCHING MACHINES Filed July 29, 1946 fi'g-Z QMM/QLQ 5/ Maya Patented July 27, l948 COMBINED our AND PIN CHAIN LINK Foe memo STRETCHINGMACHINES Philibert Deck,.Zurich, Switzerland Application July 29, 1946, Serial No. 686,958 l t In Switzerland May 4, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, Auguste, 1 94s I Patent expires May 4, 1965 1 ,The invention relates to improvements incombined clip and pin chain links for fabric stretching machine. 3 a 1 Clip links as parts of a stenter chain are known which are adapted to gripthe edges of textile materials, for example fabrics, between..a,,iixed part and a movable part for the purpose of stretching the fabric. The movable part of the clip link is customarily provided with a knife edge for securely engaging the fabric. Furthermore, pin strips are known as parts of a stenter chain in which the edges of the fabric are engaged by the pins for stretching the fabric.

If both devices are combined for optional choice of first the one and then the other stretching means, the following disadvantages are apt to arise:

When the clips are used for stretching, the pin strips are left unguarded and the fabric can easily come into unwanted contact with the pins of the pin strips when the fabric is introduced into the clips and even after the fabric has been inserted into the clip due to small initial tension. The fabric is damaged thereby or a bending of the pins occurs. Furthermore there is the danger that the operator injures his fingers.

When alternately the pin strips are used for stretching, the movable part on the clip link, which for the purpose of its clamping operation is customarily provided with a considerable weight for loading, lies with its sharp knife edge on the clip plate and is lifted somewhat away from the clip plate by the movement of the chain links due to unavoidable Vibrations and again falls back on to the same, and. so forth. Because of this movement of the movable part of the clip links relative to the clip plate, the sharp knife edge of the movable part is worn oif and is soon rendered unsuitable for the purpose of clamping.

These disadvantages of the prior art devices are overcome by the present invention, which relates to a combined clip and pin link for stretching machine for textile material. In accordance with the invention a pin strip is secured on the clip link somewhat below its working plane and on a carrying arm of the clip link, and there is also arranged a rotatable guard arm which when the fabric is stretched by means of the clip, covers the pin strip. When the fabric, however, is stretched by means of the pins the guard arm is rotated upwards and comes out of the way of the textile material and moves the movable clip arm into an inoperative position in which it remains out of contact with the clip plate.

In the drawing there is illustrated by way of ,5Claims. (01.26-62) example a combined clip and pin in accordance withthe invention in two different positio of its individual parts in the Figuresl and2.

In the drawing I indicates the body or th as link, 2 the connecting lugs withthe neat link, 3 the movable clip ar'ni rotatable aboutapivot'ib, 4 its knife edge,5 its loading weight and Fth clip plate.

Figure 1 illustrates the manner in which the edge of the fabric a is held securely by the clip when the fabric is stretched.

According to the invention there is secured on the body I beneath its working plane of the clip plate 6 (the plane of the fabric a), on a carrying arm 1, a pin strip 8 with pins 9, secured for example on a ledge 10, and there is .a guard arm l2 arranged rotatable about a pivot H, which arm, when the fabric is stretched by means of the clip, covers the pin strip 8. When the fabric is stretched by means of the pins 9; however, the arm I2 is turned upwards (position Figure 2) and thereby moves the movable clip arm 3 into an inoperative position away from the clip plate 6. In the illustrated construction, the guard arm I2 consists of two parts IZa and l2b, of which the one part In is only of a length as necessary to cover the pin strip, while the other part H2) is longer and is adapted to engage the movable clip arm 3 with a bent portion l3 which also covers the pin strip from the inner side of the fabric.

The arm lZb in its raised position engages preferably a projection M on the movable clip arm 3.

A control member is. provided on the guard arm I2 by means of which the raising and lowering of the guard arm by hand is made possible from a position outside the vicinity of the pin strip 8. A spring device, for example a leaf spring I6, is provided which looks the guard arm I2 in its two alternate working positions and allows it to be brought from one position into the other when the control member [5 is actuated. For this purpose two flat surfaces are arranged on the guard arm l2 as shown at ll and I8 and against which the spring [6 is adapted to bear.

In the device according to the invention the parts of the clip, when idle, are protected against wear and do not damage the fabric and the pins of the pin strip, when not in use, are guarded and prevent injury to the fingers of the operator.

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined clip and pin link for fabric stretching machines, including a link body provided with a clip plate and a movable clip arm having a clamping edge rotatably supported by said body above said clipplate, a carrying arm on said link body below the Working plane of said clip plate, a pin strip secured to said carrying arm, a @i'iaid Hibta'ltably arranged so as to cover the pin *strip "'whn stretching the fabric by means of said clip plate and clip arm, and

adapted to be rotated into an inoperative posi tion when stretching the fabric by mea pin strip, said guard arm inits tion engaging the movable clip arm and h g the latter out of engagement with the clip late. 2. A combined clip and pin linkas claimed in claim 1, including a control member'bnjthe arm for moving the guard arm from'its operative position to its inoperative iio sitioii "vice two flat faces and including a leaf spring adapted to engage either flat face in the two selectively adjustable positions of said guard arm for lockingly holding the guard arm in the selected position.

5. boiiibixied clip and pi-n link as claimed in claim 1 in which said guard arm consists of parts 7 or which one covers substantially only the pin Afc'onibineid 'iclipand {15in link as "claimed in strip, while the other part is adapted to engage 't l'i radians clip arm and is provided with a bent outer portion which extends over the pin strip towzarrcil the inner side of the fabric.

PHILIBERT DECK.

REFERENCES CITED f fh idtv'iii g references are of record in the file of -this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 Number 7 Name Qate,

11,361 pbwniiam im'ly 24;1897

FOREIGN PATENTS U fCffo ujr'itry Date erma y Oct. 28, 1905 "Great Britain 'AugqB, 1938 

